Newbie hatcher

[Andie1141]

Would love some advise please. I have 4 bantam hens and one columbian Pekin cock. I set 8 eggs collected over 3 days and popped them in my incubator. All 8 germinated but 5 died within 10 days (the blood ring of death) and others were promising. I candled again at 18 days (just before lockdown) and only 3 were alive. I'm now on day 24 and only one is still alive & showing no signs of hatching. The incubator is at 38c and humidity at 65%. Please help, what have I done wrong.

My incubator automatically turns which I turned off at lockdown. (The rocking cradle not the actual incubator)

Thank you

 

[CascadiaRiver]

I am no expert but I think the humidity was too low, and maybe 2 or 3 degrees colder than it should? I am no expert but what did the 'dead' eggs at 18 days look like?

 

[WalnutHill]

Please use a calibrated thermometer, like a medical thermometer or a Brinsea SpotCheck, to check the actual incubator temperatures. It's unfortunate that the onboard controllers and provided thermometers are not always accurate.

I have six thermometers now...seven if you count both probes for my smoker thermometer...and even in the same area of the same tray they don't read the same.

Did you add water day 0 - 18? What was the reported humidity those days? Was there ever any condensation on the windows?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Please use a calibrated thermometer, like a medical thermometer or a Brinsea SpotCheck, to check the actual incubator temperatures. It's unfortunate that the onboard controllers and provided thermometers are not always accurate.

I have six thermometers now...seven if you count both probes for my smoker thermometer...and even in the same area of the same tray they don't read the same.

Did you add water day 0 - 18? What was the reported humidity those days? Was there ever any condensation on the windows?

x2

Always use a checked/accurate thermometer and never rely on the incubator gages. I'm also curious as to what your humidity was the first 18 days. I am a big advocate of the low humidity incubation method in conjunction with monitoring air cells for confirmation of proper humidity. (The link in my signature at the bottom of my post explains the method in more detail.) I aim for 30-35% first 17 days and then (because I open my bator during hatch) I go up to 75% at lockdown on day 18.